Compare Amazing Vietnam 16 days by Insight Asia Travel vs Vietnam in 9 days - Natural Wonders & Traditions - Charm by Exoticca
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Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4.5 | Great
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Duration | 16 days | 9 days |
Price From | $ 1,995 | $ 2,299 |
Price Per Day | $ 125 | $ 255 |
Highlights |
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Trip Style | Private guided tour | Small group tour |
Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
Physical Level |
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Travel Themes |
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Countries Visited | ||
Cities and Attractions |
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Flights & Transport | Internal airfare and ground transport included | Airfare included |
Activities |
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Meals Included |
9 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches and 6 Dinners |
7 Breakfasts, 1 Brunch, 1 Lunch and 1 Dinner. |
Description |
Staring from Saigon, the most dynamic city in Vietnam, you will explore its historical attractions and colourful outdoor markets then visit the Cu Chi Tunnels – a famous place in the Vietnam-American – as a way to ambush approaching US troops, move supplies, deliver information and even as living quarters. After an overnight in the Mekong Delta cruising the narrow canals and join in the floating market you will continue your trip to the Central Vietnam Road of Heritages visiting Hue Citadel, Hoi An Ancient town. In the North Vietnam you will have more chance to learn of the Vietnamese culture with a soft adventure to Sapa town meeting some ethnic group, visiting a colourful hill tribe market before enjoying an marvellous stay overnight on a traditional junk in the Halong Bay.
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Experience the bustling city of Hanoi, the mystic waters of the stretching Mekong Delta, the wonders to be found in Hue and the historic capital Ho Chi Minh. Enjoy an overnight river cruise on a traditional Junk boat in Ha Long Bay and discover the charms of lantern-lit Hoi An. Be immersed in colorful Vietnamese culture and history on this awe-inspiring journey. |
Day 1: Welcome to Hanoi
Meals: Dinner
Overnight: Hanoi
Warm welcome upon your arrival in Hanoi by your local guide. Private transfer to your hotel located in the downtown. Enjoy a cyclo ( trishaw) riding around Hanoi Old Quarter with last stop at the famous Thang Long Water Puppet Theater for a Water Puppet Show – a unique art performance. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Hanoi Free Choice: Sightseeing - Street Food - Dinning | Overnight: Hanoi
Widely acknowledged as one of the loveliest cities in Asia, this one-thousand-year old city offer you its unique images that totally different from other Asian cities. Hanoi still retains a small-town provincial charm and unique intermingle with a French legacy wide, tree-lined boulevards, parks, grand villas and an artistic, café society.
Different people, different interests and tastes. Hanoi Free Choice Sightseeing – Street Food – Dinning offers you the best things that Hanoi has to offer and satisfy you with a personalize discovery and authentic experience. Please select one of the Hanoi city options and one of the Hanoi Surroundings to enjoy the day in Hanoi.
Free Choice Sightseeing of Hanoi city & Surroundings
Full-day city tour ( Maximum 7 places)
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
One Pillar Pagoda
Quan Thanh Temple
Temple of Literature
Bach Ma Temple
Hanoi Ancient House
Tran Quoc pagoda
Sword Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
Vietnam Military History Museum
Vietnam National Museum of History
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
Vietnamese Women’s Museum
Half-day city tour ( Maximum 4 places & One of Free Choice Hanoi Surroundings
Free Choice Hanoi Surroundings
Bat Trang pottery villages
About 13 kilometers south east of Hanoi center, Bat Trang village, established in 14th or 15th century, is famous for ceramic and pottery products of high quality such as vases, bowls, dishes, and many other kinds of ceramic products which have been exported worldwide.
Van Phuc silk village:
About 8 km southwest of Ha Noi, Van Phuc silk village is well known for its traditional sericulture, weaving, and silk products for a long-lasting history of more than two thousand years. The village makes more than 2 million meters of silk per year and is an ideal place for silk products & souvenirs
Duong Lam Ancient village.
Duong Lam ancient village, some 60km to the west of Hanoi, has a history of about 1,200 years with many houses dating back up to 400 years. One special thing about the village is that most of the buildings here are made of laterite and mud, two materials that are abundant in the area. The village also has its prestige as two of Vietnam’s kings, Phung Hung (761-802) and Ngo Quyen (896-944) were born in here.
Dong Ho painting village
Dong Ho painting village, 30 km to the East of Hanoi, or Vietnamese woodblock prints is a distinct Vietnamese folk art. Dong Ho paintings reflect people’s innermost feelings. Dong Ho paintings is made of of bark of a tree called “Dzo. Colors of the painting are refined from various kinds of tree leaves that people can easily find in Vietnam. Dong Ho paintings have about 300 years of history in the north of Vietnam. It is always considered a symbol of traditional culture and aesthetic value of Vietnam.
Free Choice Street Food – Authentic experiences
“ Pho Hanoi “ followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/softdrink
“ Banh Cuon “ followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/softdrink
“ Bun Cha Hanoi “ followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/softdrink
“ Bo kho – Beef Stew ” followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/softdrink
Free Choice Dining :
“Cha Ca Hanoi “ in Hanoi Old Quarter area at local restaurant.
Vegetarian set-menu at local restaurant
Vietnamese set-menu at French building restaurant
Vietnamese cuisine a-la-carte at Ngon restaurant
KOTO restaurant. Know One Teach One unique restaurant.
Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay | Meal: B-L-D | Overnight: Traditional Junk
In the morning you leave Hanoi for Halong Bay via the Red River Delta. Welcome on board. You will set out on a junk cruise on the bay passing by the island, islets: Hoa Cuong fishing village, Soi Sim beach, Ti Top Island, Tung Sau Pearl Farm, Me Cung Cave and to reach one of the largest floating village in Halong Bay “Cua Van Floating Village” while seafood lunch is served.Visit Cua Van Floating Village and experience one of the beautiful place in HaLong bay where you can enjoy kayaking or just seat on the traditional bamboo boat with local people. Enjoy swimming and kayaking in Tung Sau Pearl Farm Village. Back to the junk and enjoy cooking demonstration to discover the Vietnamese cuisine. Evening you enjoy the elegant Paradise dinner with a Traditional Bao Dai dress and photo shoot with captain and manager on board folowed by relax at leisure; enjoy Movie Night, Board Games, and Fishing or Beauty Spa services.
Day 4: Halong Bay - Hanoi
Meal : Brunch
Overnight: Hanoi
Early bird with exercises with Tai chi on the sundeck then enjoy a light breakfast. Explore Thien Canh Son Cave. Watching fruits carving demonstration. Enjoy Ha Long Bay scenery while the junk boat cruising back to shore. Rejoin your car for journey back to Hanoi.
Free Choice Activities
Enjoy some glasses of “Bia hoi Hanoi ” at local pub.
Foot massage
Day 5: Fly to Hue - Cyclo tour
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Overnight: Hue
Enjoy your free time until transfer to Noi Bai airport for flight to Hue. Located in central Vietnam, the World Cultural Heritage Site Hue used to be the Citadel of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1805 to 1945. Your local guide meets you at the Phu Bai airport for a transfer to hotel. At leisure. Evening meeting with your guide again for a Hue Royal-style dinner tasting some Royal cuisines at local restaurant.
Day 6: Hue Free Choice: Sightseeing - Street Food - Dinning
Overnight: Hue
Besides Hue citadel and tombs, Hue still has a lot to offer you. Hue Sightseeing Freedom of Choices and Meal options will satisfy you. All you have to do is to select one of the Hue city options and one of the Hue Surroundings to explore Hue by your own way.
Free Choice Sightseeing – Hue city
Full-day Hue city tour
Half-day Hue city tour & One of Hue Surroundings
Free Choice Sightseeing – Hue city in details
Half-day city tour (Maximum 4 places) | Full-day city tour ( Maximum 7 places)
Dragon boat to visit the Thien Mu pagoda
King Minh Mang’s tomb
King Tu Duc’s tomb
King Khai Dinh’s tomb
King Gia Long’s tomb
Hue Citadel Complex
Notre Dame Cathedral
Tu Hieu pagoda
Dong Ba market – a paradise for snapshots of daily activities.
Hue Free Choice Surroundings
Phuoc Tich ancient village
Located on the bank of leisurely O Lau River, about 30 kilometers from center of Hue city, Phuoc Tich village, built in 1470, is the symbol of architecture of the central region and famous for traditional pottery. Trip to Phuoc Tich village offers you a view of Centre Vietnam countryside, too.
Thanh Toan village
This is one of the most beautiful villages in Hue. The village, 8km east of Hue, is famous for its beautiful roads, peaceful rural landscape, particularly the tile-roofed bridge, communal houses, clan worshiping houses, traditional festivals, farming practices and local people’s daily activities. You also can join in the village market and taste some local culinary specialties like Hen rice, fish-pancakes, and a wide variety of rice noodles.
Free Choice Hue Street Food – Authentic experiences
“ Bun bo Hue” “ followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/softdrink
“ Banh khoai “ followed by a cup of Vietnamese cof/tea/softdrink
“ Cơm Hến “ followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/softdrink
“ Nem lụi Hue “ followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/softdrink
Free Choice Dining
Hue vegetarian food at local restaurant
Vietnamese set-menu at local restaurant
Dinner with Vietnamese traditional songs on the dragon boat.
Day 7: Hue – Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Stay overnight: Hoi An
Today you leave Hue for Hoi An, another World Heritage site in the Central Vietnam. Hoi An is one of the oldest towns in south-east Asia and characterized by a rich blend of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and European architecture. Formerly known as Faifo, the ancient riverside town of Hoi An was a major trading port from the 16th to the 19th century. Journey to Hoi An is travelling over the Hai Van pass where you have a stop for a panoramic view over the Lang Co beach. On the way to Hoi An you may like to stop at one of the interesting places:
1. Museum of Cham Sculpture
2. Marble Mountains and Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village
Day 8: Hoi An & Cooking Class
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Overnight: Hoi An
You start the day with a walking tour to explore the Ancient town with old houses, narrow streets, moss-grown walls, lantern makers and visit Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls, Handicraft workshop and enjoy traditional arts performance. Begin you cooking class by a visit the Hoi An colorful market to purchase some of the ingredients for your cooking lesson. Take the Red Bridge boat cruising along the Hoi An river to the cooking school. On arrival, you explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden and learn about some of Hoi An and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The 2-hour cooking lesson includes a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving . You also have a chance to try some dishes yourselves. Lunch is served included what you have cooked. Back to your hotel. At leisure.
Day 9: Free Choice Hoi An Surroundings - Street Food
Overnight: Hoi An
Today you have a half-day free day for relaxation at the resort, water sports, diving, snorkeling, sunset watching and spend half-day to explore the Hoi An Surroundings to one of its below interesting places:
1. Tra Que Vegetable village by bicycle
Where you can join with gardening activities as preparing the land and fertilizing with seaweed from the local lake, prepare food and join lunch with a local family. It is also good time to relax and learn more about the Vietnamese village.
2. Kim Bong Carpentry village by boat
Formed in the 15 th century by Vietnameses from the Northern Vietnam, Kim Bong carpentry developed vigorously and the occupational village was established with three groups: Ancient architectural construction, civil wooden furniture and shipbuilding. Many carpenters from this village worlked to build Hue Citadel
3. My Son Sanctuary
My Son Sanctuary dates from the 4th to the 13th centuries. It was a unique culture on the coast of contemporary Vietnam, owing its spiritual origins to the Hinduism of India. This is graphically illustrated by the remains of a series of impressive tower temples in a dramatic site that was the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its existence. The My Son Sanctuary is a remarkable architectural ensemble that developed over a period of ten centuries. It presents a vivid picture of spiritual and political life in an important phase of the history of South-East Asia.
Day 10: Fly to Ho Chi Minh city | Free Choice Sightseeing
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Overnight: HCMC
Again you take an one-hour flight to Ho Chi Minh city. This is a city full of surprises. The city’s core is still adorned with wide elegant boulevards and historic French colonial buildings and offers plenty of reasons to visit, from its blend of historic, attractions to vibrant shopping, dining and nightlife. HCMC Free Choice Sightseeing offer you more about this city. You have dinner on the Lady Hau cruises on the Saigon river.
Free Choice Sightseeing | Maximum 4 places
1. Reunification Palace
2. Municipal Theatre – City Post Office – Notre-Dame Cathedral
3. War Remnants Museum
4. Vinh Nghiem pagoda
5. Hoang De pagoda
6. Ben Thanh market
Day 11: Mekong Delta Excursion - Free Choice Dinning
Meals: Breakfast, Launch and Dinner
Overnight: HCMC
Today you have am excursion to the Mekong Delta. Surrounded by thousands of crisscrossed canals, life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, most of the villages are often accessible by rivers and canals rather than by road. Upon arrival you take a motor-boat to explore the Thoi Son islet, one of the four famous islets ( Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise, Phoenix). Following a village path passing local houses to visit some family-run coconut candy mills then you take a horse-cart from village to village. Enjoy lunch with local special dishes followed by the “Southern Vietnamese folk music”, a very common art activity in the Mekong Delta performed by local people. Back to HCMC and enjoy your dinner.
Free Choice Dining :
1. Vegetarian set-menu at local restaurant
2. Vietnamese set-menu at French building restaurant
3. South Vietnamese buffet at local restaurant
Day 12: Fly to Phu Quoc
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Phu Quoc Island
Today you have a short flight for Phu Quoc Island, where white sands and tropical waters entice beachgoers from all over the globe. Snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing are the most popular water sports here, though jet-skiing, wind sailing and squid fishing—yes, squid fishing—are also at your vacationing fingertips. Joining in the early-morning Duong Dong Market for an authentic local experience.
Day 13 - 15 : Free & Easy
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Phu Quoc Island
Your free time for relax and enjoy the facilities offered by the resort. Try some water sports like Snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing or visit some local black pepper farms and high-quality fish sauce factories.
Day 16: Fly to HCMC - Departure
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy your free time at your hotel or you can do last minute souvenir shopping before a transfer to Phu Quoc airport airport for flight to HCMC to connect your flight home. Have a nice journey. Thanks for joining us.
Day 1: US - Night on board
Arrival at your US departure airport ready to check-in for an overnight flight to Hanoi. Night on board.
Day 2: Hanoi
Arrive in Vietnam and transfer to your hotel. Take the opportunity to explore this bustling city and get to know your surroundings. Overnight stay in Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, set off on an orientation tour of Hanoi to discover the most emblematic sights of this historic city. Pass by old French colonial buildings and the Opera House on your way to visit Ho Chi Minh Complex and Mausoleum, dedicated to the nation's founder.* Also see Ba Dinh Square and One Pillar Pagoda, which dates back to the foundation of the city. Continue to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university, home to beautiful gardens and well-preserved architecture. Afterwards, enjoy a cyclo ride (a type of Vietnamese rickshaw) around the charming streets of the Old Quarter and visit a bustling local market. End your tour on the banks of beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake, where you can learn about the legend of the lake and visit Ngoc Son Temple. Transfer back to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the evening at your leisure. Overnight stay in Hanoi. * Please note: Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum is viewed from the outside on Mondays, Fridays and in the afternoons as it is closed at these times.
Day 4: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart by road to Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage area of outstanding natural beauty known for its limestone islands and glistening waters. Travel through the rich farmlands of the delta and witness the daily life of the Vietnamese villages. Arrive in Ha Long and board a traditional junk boat, to being your cruise on the bay with a welcome drink. Lunch on board. The cruise passes by many fascinating islets and may stop for a while to visit local fishing villages, caves and limestone islands. Relax at your leisure on the sun deck. Dinner and overnight on board. * There will be no guide on board.
Day 5: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi - Danang - Hoi An
Brunch on board as the junk continues to cruise before you return to Ha Long port. Disembark and transfer to Hai Phong airport for a flight to Danang. On arrival, you will be met by your guide and then transfer to your hotel in the charming city of Hoi An, known for its pretty lantern-lit streets. Overnight stay in Hoi An.
Day 6: Hoi An
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, enjoy a guided walking tour through the narrow streets of atmospheric Hoi An. This former port and UNESCO World Heritage site is full of architectural gems that show a range of influences. You can admire these charming houses along Tran Phu Street, one of the oldest in Hoi An, visit the 400 years-old Japanese covered bridge, the Chinese temple, and a traditional Vietnamese merchants house. The afternoon is free at your leisure. We recommend an optional Thu Bon River & Organic Village Excursion.* Overnight stay in Hoi An. * Optional Full-Day Thu Bon River & Organic Village Excursion: Experience real rural life in Vietnam with this full-day tour, which includes a cruise on the Thu Bon River, passing many fishing areas. Stop at Van Lang Village to witness basket boat racing, before heading to Tra Que Herb Village, where local farmers will give you an insight into their organic produce. Enjoy a culinary masterclass in Vietnamese cuisine before enjoying a delicious lunch.
Day 7: Hoi An - Hue
Breakfast at the hotel. Travel along one of Vietnams most scenic highways towards the city of Hue. Along the way, stop at the white sands of Lang Co Beach and the top of Hai Van Pass for exceptional views. Arrive in Hue and enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city's sights. Visit the Imperial City and the Royal Citadel. Much of the Citadel was destroyed during the Tet Offensive in 1968 but is gradually being restored. Next, visit King Khai Dinh Mausoleum and browse through a bustling local market. Afterwards, transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Hue.
Day 8: Hue - Ho Chi Minh City
Breakfast at the hotel. Early transfer to the airport to take a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, meet your guide and visit the moving War Remnants Museum which presents a partial, but riveting, view of the American War. Continue to the Reunification Palace, the former residence of the Indochina Governor-General and later President of the Republic of Southern Vietnam until the fall of Saigon. The tour finishes with Notre Dame Cathedral and the bustling Ben Thanh Market. Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a free day in this exciting city.* We recommend an optional excursion to discover the magical Mekong Delta. Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City. * Optional Mekong Delta Excursion: Depart to Ben Tre province crossing Rach Mieu bridge. On arrival in Hung Vuong Pier, hop on a motorized boat on the Ben Tre River, one of the tributes of Mekong River while witnessing the lively activities of local life along the way. Stop at a brick kiln and visit one of the many coconut processing workshops located along the canal. Take a motorized cart or bicycle along the shady paths and pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to discover everyday life on the river. Take a rowing-boat along a beautiful water palm creek before you return to the pier.
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City - US
Breakfast at the hotel. If your flight departs in the afternoon, we recommend the option to enjoy a half-day Cu Chi tunnels visit.* In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for a flight back to the US. Arrive in the US and end your trip. * Optional Cu Chi Tunnels Excursion: Spend the morning exploring the impressive tunnel complex of Cu Chi, dug in 1948 for guerrillas to escape the bombardment of French forces. Explore the underground villages and understand the history of the tunnels.